Vivekananda Park still bears Bazi Bazar brunt

TNN | Updated: Nov 17, 2018, 6:36 IST

KOLKATA: If Chhath rituals spelt disaster for the Lake—the waterbody as well as the flora and fauna bearing the brunt of the puja performed and the crackers burst—Vivekananda Park right across the street still hosts piles of garbage and debris left behind by the Baazi Bazar, nearly 10 days after Diwali. The city’s biggest fireworks market was held at Vivekananda Park this year after the Army initially refused to grant permission at Maidan. The park, part of the Rabindra Sarovar eco-sensitive zone, was on Friday found still littered with plastic bottles, packets, empty cartons and thermocol pieces, and the grass turning grey. “The fair was allowed at the park on condition that the organisers would return it in the same condition in which it would be given to them. They will have to pay penalty for not complying. They will also have to pay for the cleaning cost,” a KMDA official said. Chittaran Maity, secretary of Burrabazar Fireworks Dealers’ Association, claimed they had intended to clean the park but could not get labourers owing to Chhath. “We sought some time but KMDA wants to slap a fine. We have appealed for an waiver.”

But locals held KMDA responsible. “They can’t blame it entirely on the organisers. Keeping the ground clean is the park custodian’s job,” said Somendra Mohan Ghosh, environmentalist who lives nearby. Surinder Jaiswal, a budding cricketer, said, “I was horrified to see big holes in the ground and iron nails strewn around. This needs thorough mending. Winter is the time we play the most.” The park is used by five cricket camps, morning walkers and students of two schools. “The Bazi Bazar was a nuisance. We had to walk on roads, kids could not play. Birds were scared away by the lights,” said Shankar Bhattacharya, a retired government officer.